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Speeches and Discussions

The current failure of leadership is not gender neutral

16 October 2024

Mary Robinson delivered the Kofi Annan Peace Address at Geneva Peace Week 2024, calling for greater respect for humanitarian law and gender parity in leadership.

Speeches and Discussions

The UN Security Council must step up to protect children in armed conflict

When we recognise women as climate leaders, we support a safer world for all

To mark International Women's Day 2024, Mary Robinson reflects on her recent visit to the Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA) in India, and considers the pivotal role of women as leaders in tackling the climate crisis.

The Elders and Future of Life Institute release open letter calling for long-view leadership on existential threats

On 15 February 2024, The Elders and the Future of Life Institute release an open letter calling on world leaders to show long-view leadership on existential threats.

اللغة العربية

Living Mandela's legacy: we must keep rising up until the future is safe and just

In our latest newsletter, Graça Machel considers Nelson Mandela's legacy, the scale of the nuclear threat, and the vital need for women's leadership in addressing today's urgent challenges.

We cannot stop until there is equity for all: Women Deliver 2023 in pictures

We cannot stop until there is equity for all: Women Deliver 2023 in pictures

Every sector must help tackle the climate crisis

Mary Robinson underscored the critical need for legal and justice institutions to deliver climate action at the 2023 Women Deliver Conference.

Speeches and Discussions

The Elders call on leaders to invest in quality data and analysis on women’s justice problems and experiences

The Elders urge decision-makers to prioritise gender-disaggregated data to help understanding of where access to justice for women can be improved.

The Elders call on leaders to address justice for survivors of gender-based violence with renewed vigour

The Elders call for responsive justice services that are tailored to women’s needs and that empower women and inform them about their options at each stage of their justice journey.

The Elders call on leaders to increase funding for legal empowerment and justice services that meet the needs of women

The Elders call on governments, funders, and decision-makers to invest in legal empowerment and justice services for women - in particular those delivered by women’s groups.

The Elders call on leaders to increase the number of women in leadership positions in the justice sector

A lack of intersectional and feminist leadership in the justice sector – and the lack of diverse women’s voices in decision-making at every level – undermines progress to achieving gender equality and access to justice for all.

Speeches and Discussions

Justice for women and girls must be at the core of our COVID-19 response

Mary Robinson underscores that crises are never gender-neutral and calls on governments to address the intersecting issues faced by women and girls in their pandemic recovery plans.

How close are we to realising gender equality?

How do we accelerate the unfinished business of the landmark Beijing Declaration on women’s rights? Mary Robinson and Amani Aruri in conversation.

Women’s leadership must drive the global recovery from COVID-19

Marking International Women's Day 2021, Mary Robinson reflects on why women leadership is crucial in achieving a more equal society post-COVID-19, and why the success of COP26 will depend on it. Published in Inter Press Service.

Finding Humanity Podcast: critical conversations with The Elders

The Finding Humanity podcast explores the need for empathetic and principled leadership on some of the biggest challenges humanity is grappling with today.

The Elders explore hope, leadership and the COVID-19 recovery in a new series of the Finding Humanity podcast

As the new US President Joe Biden calls for unity in tackling the cascading crises of our era, The Elders embark on a new podcast series looking at the leadership needed to meet the challenges ahead.

2020: a year in review

2020 was a year like no other as COVID-19 wreaked havoc on people’s lives across the world. During this time, The Elders continued to deliver on Nelson Mandela’s mandate to “support courage where there is fear” and “inspire hope where there is despair”

Putting GBV survivors at the centre of data collection efforts

Nadine Tunasi from Survivors Speak Out highlights the importance of a survivor-centred approach to data collection within and beyond conflict zones

Grassroots organisations are essential to empowering the communities they serve

Frontline justice defenders Nazdeek explain why work like theirs must be urgently and flexibly funded during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Elders reflect on the responsibility of men to end gender-based violence

The Elders call for male leaders worldwide to champion gender equality and take urgent action to combat violence against women

We must break the cycle of gender-based discrimination and inequality

As the 2020 comes to a close, it is important that leaders and citizens alike assert the values of solidarity and cooperation as the only way to overcome the pandemic and tackle future threats.

Speeches and Discussions

Access to justice for women must be a priority

Ban Ki-moon calls on leaders to increase access to justice for women, if governments are to deliver on their SDG promises.

Responding to the threat of gender-based violence in refugee settings

As The Elders mark the annual global campaign of 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, this photo essay provided by All We Can highlights some of the particular challenges faced by women in refugee camps.

Four areas of action to tackle the shadow pandemic of violence against women

The Elders’ Senior Policy Advisor on Access to Justice, Sabrina Mahtani, writes on concrete measures we need to take if we are serious about ending violence against women.

Gender-based violence and COVID-19: Why justice is essential to response and recovery plans

Stacey Cram from Namati outlines the intersection between access to justice, the pandemic and violence against women and girls.

16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence

Focusing on increasing access to justice, The Elders join the annual global campaign to end violence against women and girls.

The Elders hope for a sea-change in US engagement on global challenges

The Elders congratulate US President-elect Joe Biden and Vice President-elect Kamala Harris on their election victory.

Elders Statements

What must be done to increase women's presence and agency in peace mediation?

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Ban Ki-moon and Graça Machel discuss the importance of leadership in promoting women's meaningul participation in peacebuilding processes at all levels.

Speeches and Discussions

Justice is on the frontline of the COVID-19 pandemic

Ban Ki-moon condemns sustained attacks on democratic safeguards, human rights and the rule of law, and underscores the centrality of justice to building back better after the pandemic.

Speeches and Discussions

Why is women’s equal participation crucial in peace processes?

Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, Graça Machel and Lakhdar Brahimi reflect on how and why women's involvement in conflict mediation is vital for stable and inclusive peace-building.

Peacebuilding is at the heart of resolving our personal, institutional and societal grievances

In a guest blog for The Elders, Yasmine Ouirhrane discusses her experiences as a peace mediator highlights the obstacles young women face both from the diaspora and in the MENA region

Women in Mediation in the Arab World: Increasing the Chances of Peace

A policy note by The Elders based on a conference held in October 2020, co-hosted with Wilton Park

Speeches and Discussions

Build back better by building back equally

Hina Jilani calls on leaders to move from commitment to action on justice for women and girls.

Elders Statements

The Elders call for urgent action to address multilateral failings exposed by COVID-19

The Elders call on world leaders to urgently strengthen, defend, and realise the potential of the multilateral system, to end the current disarray in the global order.

Speeches and Discussions

The COVID-19 recovery must super-charge progress towards the 2030 Agenda

Mary Robinson underscores the importance of youth, peace and climate action in ensuring that the world “builds back better” after COVID-19

The Elders reflect on the 20 years since the UN 1325 Resolution on Women Peace and Security

As we mark the 20th anniversary of UN Resolution 1325, The Elders reflect on what women in conflict mediation means to them.

Securing our common future in the era of COVID-19: multilateral action is key

From the achievements of sustainable development and empowering women to the need for pandemic preparedness and investing in universal health coverage, Gro Harlem Brundtland discusses the power of multilateralism, in this interview with The ASEAN magazine

Speeches and Discussions

Every country must raise its political ambition to move towards zero pollution and full climate justice

Mary Robinson highlights that pollution is much more than carbon emissions and praises moves to develop a viable and sustainable post-pandemic recovery.

The impacts of crises are never gender-neutral and COVID-19 is no exception

Mary Robinson calls for women’s leadership at all levels to be at the core of the COVID-19 response if a roll back on women’s rights is to be prevented. Published in IPS News.

We must test to exit COVID-19: Gro Harlem Brundtland joins women leaders calling for urgent action

Gro Harlem Brundtland joins distinguished women leaders from politics and healthcare to call on world leaders to prioritise testing for COVID-19

Artemisa Honduras: empowering girls to reach their potential

Nicolle and Sarahi discuss how information is key to claiming your rights and accessing justice, and how, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Artemisa Honduras continues to support and educate on sexual and reproductive rights in Honduras.

COVID-19 and the impact on African women: all responses must respect the gendered impacts of the pandemic

In an open letter on the impact of COVID-19 on African women, Graça Machel calls for the criminal justice system to be strengthened and increased efforts around gender-based violence survivor support and protection.

Human Rights Committee Vranje: supporting survivors of domestic violence

Dejana Stosic, of the Human Rights Committee Vranje in Serbia, explains why girls' rights remain important and how the COVID-19 pandemic hasn’t stopped them from supporting survivors of gender-based violence.

Chhori: creating a society with no discrimination towards girls

Hira Dahal, Executive Director of Chhori, discusses working to increase access to justice for survivors of gender based violence in Nepal, addressing human trafficking, and adapting during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 has gifted us a chance to end gender-based violence. We must take it

Noting that COVID-19 restrictions have resulted in an increase in domestic violence and a decrease in survivors' access to justice, Graça Machel calls for the global epidemic of gender-based violence to be rooted out as boldly as we are tackling COVID-19.

Justice For Women Amidst COVID-19: we must safeguard women’s right to access justice

In a foreword for a new report published by UN Women, IDLO, UNDP, UNODC, World Bank and The Pathfinders, Graça Machel calls for action to safeguard women’s right to access justice during the pandemic.

International Women's Day 2020

To mark International Women's Day this year, The Elders have shared photos of themselves with women who inspire them, to highlight the importance of women's engagement, leadership and action in seeking a more peaceful and just world.

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Mary Robinson, Ban Ki-moon & Ernesto Zedillo enjoyed a good meeting with @antonioguterres at @UN. They discussed global security issues inc. Ukraine and Israel/Palestine, how to strengthen multilateralism amid geopolitical tensions, & plans for the upcoming Summit of the Future. pic.twitter.com/lY1HWKn8Ku
— The Elders (@TheElders) June 27, 2024

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